YCD-Spot1
Nanaimo Airport – Spotting Guide
- last modified on October 24, 2025
Nanaimo Airport (YCD/CYCD) is a small regional airport west of Vancouver. After the pandemic, YCD has been hit hard with service reductions by Air Canada (10 services daily (pre-pandemic) to 4 services daily now). Westjet’s service level has returned to about the same level as pre-pandemic. Westjet will fly an infrequent 737 service to YCD. Other than that, AC and WS each fly their Q400 aircraft for most services. North Cariboo Air and Summit Air will fly infrequent charter flights on weekdays to camps in Northern BC: mainly operated by the Avro RJ 85 or RJ 100. Alkan Air also has it’s southern base at YCD so they’ll be in/out frequently with King Airs and Beech 1900s.
Written by Cody McVie and Tim-Patrick Müller. Last Update: 2024
| Rating | |
| Movements |  |
| Airline Variety |  |
| Photo Locations | |
| Weather |  |
| Airport Information | |
| Runways | |
| 16/34 | 2012 x 45m |
| Terminals | |
| T1 | There is one small terminal in the west handling all operations. |
| Spotting Information | |
| Ladder | A ladder is very useful or even needed at spots 3-7. A small 1-2 step works fine though as well. |
| Car/Public Transport | A vehicle isn’t essential, but highly recommended for spotting at YCD. There’s an infrequent city bus that runs between Ladysmith and Nanaimo which stops at the main terminal. If you decide to bus to the airport, spots 3 to 7 are nearby to the terminal and within walking distance. For spots 1-3 a car is highly recommended. It is recommended staying nearby to your vehicle when not actively shooting. |
| Drinks/Food | There are some shops in the terminal or there is a restaurant north off the airport. |
| Hotels | No spotter hotels around. |
| Season | Summer is definitely the better time to come here as the weather is way better and you have more hours of light. However, haze and insects can be an issue. |
| Security | Spotting is no problem at YCD normally. |
| Runway Usage | |
| General Info |
|
 |
Spot #1 – Simpson Rd – 34 Arrivals |
|---|---|
| WHERE |
Park your vehicle along Simpson Rd and shoot from your desired angle. Note that large trucks use this road so ensure you’re parked off to the edge leaving plenty of room for them to pass.
|
| WHAT | From here you can nicely spot 34 arrivals. |
| TIME | Sunrise till early noon. |
| MISC. | No ladder needed, nothing nearby. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 50-250mm |
 |
Spot #2 – Haslem Rd – 16 Arrivals + 34 Departures |
|---|---|
| WHERE |
Park your vehicle on the approach lighting service road. And from there, you can walk east or west for your desired shot. Stay nearby to your vehicle when not actively shooting. Note that the road can have vehicles travelling at a high rate of speed so use caution whilst walking to your desired angle.
|
| WHAT | Arrivals on runway 16, low 34 departures. |
| TIME | All day, just walk with the sun along the fence. |
| MISC. | No ladder needed, nothing nearby. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 50-250mm |
 |
Spot #3 – Mustang Rd – Taxiway + 16/34 Movements |
|---|---|
| WHERE | This spot is located at the fence front by the side of a parking lot just at the end of Mustand Rd, before the road ends up in front of a crash gate with the airside street on the other side. |
| WHAT | From here you can see movements on the taxiway in front plus the ones on runway 16/34 in the back. |
| TIME | Later noon till sunset. |
| MISC. | Ladder needed, nothing around. Keep a low profile! |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 24-250mm |
 |
Spot #4- Enex Aviation – Ramp + Taxiway |
|---|---|
| WHERE | This position can be found by the fence around/next to Enex Aviation just by the roadside of Mustand Rd. Just get rid of your car nearby somewhere and position yourself along the fence here. |
| WHAT | From here you can spot the ramp in front and the taxiway in the back. |
| TIME | Depending on the angle, but in general later noon to sunset as well. |
| MISC. | Haze and foreground clutter may be an issue. You will find restrooms and a cafe in the terminal just next to you. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 24-250mm |
 |
Spot #5 – NAV Canada Flight Service Station – Ramp + Taxiway Alpha + 16/34 Movements |
|---|---|
| WHERE |
You can either park at the terminal (paid parking) or park nearby to the NAV Canada FSS Building. If parking at the NAV building, refrain from parking directly in front of the building in NAV designated spots, and keep a low profile leaving your only to grab a your shot.
|
| WHAT | Taxiway Alpha movements to/from the terminal and runway. General overview of the apron/terminal. And all runway movements; Runway 16 and Runway 34 arrivals and departures. |
| TIME | Noon-sunset for taxiway/runway movements. Aircraft parked on the apron from late morning to early evening. |
| MISC. | Avoid using a ladder at this location as you want to keep a lower profile. No issues (to my knowledge) have been posed by Airport staff or NAV Staff regarding shooting from this spot. Terminal nearby with cafe and washrooms. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 18-135mm for apron and taxiway. 100-400mm for runway. |
 |
Spot #6 – Abandoned Building – Taxiway Alpha + 16/34 Movements |
|---|---|
| WHERE |
Park your vehicle near the (seemingly) abandoned building @ 3432 Spitfire Way and simply shoot from the fence front.
|
| WHAT | Taxiway Alpha movements to/from the terminal and runway. And all runway movements; Runway 16 and Runway 34 arrivals and departures. |
| TIME | Noon-sunset. Heat haze can be problematic for runway movements; taxiway movements shouldn’t be an issue. |
| MISC. | Haze can be an issue during runway shooting. A 3-step ladder is handy here. The angle of the fence with the taxiway could cause difficulty getting an unobstructed shot. However, still possible at certain angles. Terminal nearby with cafe and washrooms. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 55-250mm lens for taxiway. 100-400mm for runway |
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Spot #7 – Spitfire Way – Taxiway Alpha + 16/34 Movements |
|---|---|
| WHERE |
Most popular spot as it’s very unlikely to miss what you want to shoot from here. Park your vehicle in the gravel lot at the south end of Spitfire Way and easily shoot from the fence front.
|
| WHAT | Essentially all movements on the South end of the airfield. Runway 34 arrivals and departures. Most runway 16 arrivals will roll full length so you’ll see them taxiing to the terminal. Runway 16 departures are doable. However, aircraft can be quite high. |
| TIME | Noon to sunset. |
| MISC. | A 3-step ladder is handy. However, not necessary as you can either shoot aircraft as they pass over the fence or shoot through the fence. Nothing nearby |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 18-250mm |
 |
Spot #8 – Timberlands Rd Hill – 34 Movements |
|---|---|
| WHERE |
Park your vehicle at the round-a-bout near the intersection of Timberlands Rd and HWY 1. From there, cross the road with caution and follow the dirt road/trail approximately 800 meters. Once you see a trail leading up the hill to a singular telephone pole, go up it and then you’ll have a great overview of the airport. Careful climbing the hill as it’s lose dirt and could be difficult for walking.
|
| WHAT | Runway 34 arrivals and departures. Runway 16 departures could be feasible from here as well. |
| TIME | Noon to sunset. |
| MISC. | Bench to sit down. Haze can be an issue during shooting aircraft still/already close to the ground. Bring water as it’s quite the trek to this location. Plus wear proper footwear. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 100-400mm, but the more the better |
#8 hill has a new bench on top beside hydro beacon pole!